Pastor's Blog

Visited with Caroline Ford late this afternoon.  She remains in ICU.  The test results came back today and Caroline has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  There are no traditional medical treatments available to her.  The doctor offered to move her to their hospice care floor but she has made the decision to go home under hospice care.  That move will possibly take place on Wednesday but that is not finalized.  Pray for Caroline.

I spoke to Larry Whitehurst late this afternoon.  He did not get the report he wanted from one of the surgeons who was present during Larry’s surgery.  They did not remove nearly as much of the tumor as Larry and family had been led to believe.  They are mentioning an additional surgery but Larry is not on board with that idea at this time.  Can you blame him?  Larry meets with another doctor tomorrow.  He likes this doctor and has a lot of confidence in him so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say about Larry’s situation.  Pray for Larry.

So, I feel led to call a special prayer meeting for tomorrow night, Tuesday, 2/20, in the church worship center beginning at 6:30PM.  The focus of this prayer time will be for Caroline and Larry but we will gladly pray for any person requesting prayer.  This will be a time of corporate prayer followed by a time of personal prayer if anyone so desires.

I need help in getting this word out to the members of the Friendship family.  I will be sending a few e-mails but would appreciate it if you would help spread the word even if you are not able to attend.

Special called prayer meeting – Tuesday, February 20, 2018, beginning at 6:30PM.  Friendship Baptist Church worship center.  Pass the word!

Blessings!

Rick & Beth Bradley welcomed their newest grandchild into this world yesterday afternoon around 12:30PM as Kristi gave birth to Emersyn Kait.  Emersyn checked in at seven pounds and two ounces and is twenty inches long.  Mother and daughter are doing well.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from somewhere in Florida.  Marcus Hatcher and I are driving to Dothan, Alabama to watch the Faith Academy girls and boys teams play in the state regionals this morning.  Anna Henley plays and is the reason I am following FA.  Marcus keeps seeing the signs for that “happiest place on earth” and is begging to go after the games.  Not happening!

Went to visit Caroline Ford last night after the worship service.  She was sleeping soundly and did not awaken when I called her name.  I do know that she had a good day yesterday per Edna Glover’s report.  Caroline should get her test results either today or tomorrow.  Pray for her!

Larry Whitehurst is in Jacksonville, FL today and tomorrow for consultations with his doctors.  Pray everything goes well.

Barbara Hamilton’s brother passed from this life this past Saturday night.  I do not know the arrangements yet but do know it was the only sibling Barbara had left.  Pray for Miss Barbara.

We were blessed with good services yesterday.  Our attendance was good in all three of our services.  We give God the glory.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family on Wednesday – morning and evening.

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.

Word came to me shortly before lunch today (Saturday) that the doctors had called Caroline’s family in.  Obviously, that usually means to expect the worse regarding continuation of earthly life.  Caroline was not coherent.  I was in Birmingham and had two ministries opportunities already in place.

I cancelled the two opportunities and Lisa and I headed to Mobile arriving at the hospital around 4:30PM.  Caroline had been moved to ICU but to our surprise she was awake, alert and talking.  She did not remember much about yesterday but otherwise seemed to be good.  Amazing!

The medical folks are pretty certain that Caroline has some form of leukemia.  The test results should be known either Monday or Tuesday.  Pray.

I want to say “thank you” to the deacons, Bro. Jerry, Bro. Benny and all others from the Friendship family who ministered to Caroline and family today.  What a great group of servants.  I knew that in my absence there was no shortage of folks who would be there to minister.  Special thanks to Betty Creech for being such a good friend to Caroline and being there for her.

So, just pray and I will keep you updated via this blog.  Blessings!

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from Birmingham, Alabama.

Bro. Benny McGath and our bus workers will meet at 8:30AM today before going out to visit on their respective routes.  Pray for this ministry.

Addition – Found out after I had posted this entry that Caroline Ford has been admitted to the hospital.  That is all I know at this point.  Pray for Caroline.

Pray for the Stacey Creal Moore family today as they gather for her celebration of life service at noon.

Larry Whitehurst leaves tomorrow heading back to Jacksonville, Florida to meet with his doctors.  Pray for traveling mercies and a good report from the doctors.

Regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening on our campus.  In hopes that many members of the Friendship family will be faithful.

It was exactly thirty nine years ago today that I met with the bus workers of the Friendship family for the very first time as their newly hired bus director.  I remember that meeting like it was yesterday.  Where has the time gone?  I never imagined the journey God had for me beginning February 17, 1979.  The absolute best part of that journey?  Meeting a young lady named Lisa Clark who would become my wife fifteen months later.  I will forever be grateful to Bro. Johnny Tucker for introducing me to Bro. Robbie Howard a month prior to 2/17/79 and to Bro. Robbie for advocating me being hired as Friendship’s bus director.  What an integral part of my life did Bro. Robbie and Miss Peggy become and I am still impacted by them to this very day.  So many great memories!

It was good seeing my parents, Sue and Josh at breakfast yesterday.  The best part?  Eddie picked up the ticket!  I simply do not see my parents often enough and I realize that but never seem to change it.

Met Lisa and Gina at an Exit on I-65 and Gina hurriedly left to go spend the weekend with Lawson and his family.  Lisa is now in “heaven” and it has nothing to do with being with me but has everything to do with being in the Riverchase Galleria!

Enjoyed a bowl of Brunswick stew at Full Moon Bar-b-que yesterday afternoon.  A North Alabama staple that is not even on the radar in South Alabama.

Lord willing, I will travel up to Hanceville, Alabama this morning to watch the Danville High School girls play in the North Regional basketball tourney.  This will give me a great opportunity to see just about everyone who lives in the Danville area including Pastor Jack Bailey, Pastor Joe David Bailey and a host of long time friends.

Lisa and I have a ministry opportunity or two this afternoon.  Pray those go well.  We will then head South and, Lord willing, will be present for all three services tomorrow.

Our Finance Committee meets tomorrow afternoon at 4:15PM in the 20-29 classroom.

I pray that you will have a great Saturday with Jesus.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from Nashville, TN.  Eddie drove from Kalamazoo down to Nashville last night.  We stopped for about four hours of sleep and are now heading to meet our parents at the Cracker Barrel in Hartselle, Alabama.  My nephew, Josh, will then take me to Birmingham to get my car and I will later hook up with Lisa & Gina.

Thank you to those who prayed for the celebration of life service for my Aunt Alice.  Things went well and for that I am very thankful.  Uncle Harley, Tony, Troy & Josh were extremely gracious to me and I am grateful.  There was a really good attendance at the visitation as well as the actual service.  I met cousins that I have never met before and saw lots of folks that I did not know.  I was honored to be a part of that service and I am grateful for the influence Aunt Alice had in my life.

Our bus workers will meet in the morning at 8:30AM.  Everyone invited to join them.

Stacey Creal Moore passed from this life on Monday, 2/12.  There will be a visitation tomorrow from 11:00AM until the noon service time.  The visitation and service will take place at the St. Elmo Bible Church.  Pray for Wade, Brooke and Rebecca along with the rest of the family as they walk through this valley.

I pray that you will have a great Friday with Jesus.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Good morning from Kalamazoo, Michigan.  The only disappointing thing to me thus far is the temperature.  It is forty three degrees here!  What is up with that?  It is February and it is supposed to be cold!  Oh well, the locals are happy!

There is someone within the Friendship family in need of our prayer support today.  I ask you to join me in praying for them.

I am heading to Grandville, MI first thing this morning to allow Dr. Derek Draft to do some dental work on me.  What a great guy!  What a great dentist.  He has always been so very kind to Lisa and me.

Our family will have a private time from 11:00AM until noon and the friends will visit until the 2:00PM service time.  At least two of Alice’s sons will speak, my brother, Eddie, will deliver the eulogy and I will bring the message.  I simply ask that you pray for the service.  I am honored that Uncle Harley, Tony, Troy & Josh have asked me to take part in this service remembering Aunt Alice.  What a sweetheart she was!

We had some time with family last night and will have more today immediately following the service.  Eddie & I will then begin the drive to Hartselle, Alabama.  We may drive through the night or we may stop at some point along the way.  Time will tell.

Regular schedule for the Friendship family this Sunday morning and evening.  Hope to be joined by many members of the Friendship family.

I pray that you will have a great Thursday with Jesus.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Happy birthday to my older brother, Eddie.  I hope he has a good day.

Hey guys, it is V Day!  I bought Lisa a gift card yesterday and then spent more on the V Day card than I did on the gift card!  Whatever happened to those ninety nine cents cards?  I definitely need to buy one at discount tomorrow or Friday and keep it to use next year!  Highway robbery!

Good morning from the Birmingham airport.  I left Grand Bay at midnight and arrived at the airport at 4:00AM.  I only made two stops that totaled about ten minutes.  Traffic was very light and the deer stayed on the side of the road – thank God!

Regular schedule today – morning and evening.  Bro. Jerry will preach in my absence.

I am flying to Cleveland, Ohio where Eddie will meet me and then we will drive the four hours or so to Kalamazoo, MI.  We have a family meal tonight and then the service tomorrow afternoon at 2:00PM.  Eddie will do the eulogy and I will bring the message.  Pray that all goes well.

I would tell you how I am getting home but you would just be confused.  It involves Lisa, Gina, Lawson, Eddie, the Danville girls basketball team, et cetera.

The Faith Academy boys won their game decisively last night.  They now advance to Dothan for the regionals.  The girls advanced on Monday night.  Both teams will play on Monday.  Lord willing, I hope to attend to support Anna.

I pray that you will have a great Wednesday with Jesus.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Word came to me last night of the passing from this life of a Grand Bay resident.  I do not feel comfortable putting the name on this blog yet but will do so in time.  Just pray for the family during this most difficult time.

The Friendship family is very blessed right now in that we have no members in the hospital.  That is good considering how much sickness has been going on everywhere.  We give God the praise.

We are on a regular schedule tomorrow morning and evening.  I think most of you are aware that I will not be present which makes four consecutive Wednesdays for me to miss.  That has never happened in all the years of my ministry.  The birth of a grandchild, two Wednesdays in Guatemala and now the passing of an Aunt.  I have missed two consecutive Wednesdays a number of times but never three and certainly not four.  I am thankful that Bro. Jerry is here to preach/teach in my absence.

Gina and I went to watch Anna and the girls of Faith Academy play last night.  They slaughtered the other team.  So much so that we left at halftime as the score difference was thirty nine points.  Gina only went in order for me to feed her at Steak & Shake before the game.  She has learned well from her sister, Daphne, and her cousin, Jamie.

Lord willing, I will drive to Birmingham during the night and catch an early morning flight tomorrow.  This is going to be a by air and by land trip.  Too much to explain but it is all good.

I pray that you will have a great Tuesday with Jesus.

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

This entry is late.  I apologize.  I was up much earlier but just could not make my fingers type.  Actually could not engage my peanut brain!

The celebration of life service for Helen Jarvis takes place this morning at 10:00AM preceded by one hour of visitation with the family.  Everything at Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.  Pray for Bonnie and the family.

The service for my Aunt Alice will take place on Thursday, 2/15.  Lord willing, I will catch a flight on Wednesday morning heading that way.  I plan to be back in Grand Bay at some point on Saturday.  Thank you for praying for this family.

Larry Whitehurst goes back to Jacksonville, FL next week to consult with his doctors.  He is still having some issues and continues to need our prayer support.

Well, I have to say “to God be the glory!”  He did great things in our midst yesterday.  I also have to say a huge “thank you” to the members of the Friendship family for their faithfulness.  I was anxious about yesterday’s attendance and you proved me wrong.  Now, we did not set any records but we had a good attendance especially considering the rain, the sicknesses and the public schools being out this week.  God is good!  You are faithful.  I am grateful!

Anna and the girls play tonight at 6:00PM.  Win and advance to Dothan for regional play.  I believe they will win.

Bobby left for Spring Training yesterday morning.  Going to miss having Bobby in our services.  Go Nats!

I pray that you will have a great Monday with Jesus.